Swimming pool grab rail structure



Nov. 27, 1962 P. D. PRIZLER ETAL 3,065,320

SWIMMING POOL GRAB RAIL STRUCTURE Filed April 25, 1961 I EGO-{O INVENTOR5. Pew. DJPE/ZLER.

DAV/0 1Q. firmvwaop tates This invention relates to decking equipment for swimming pools, and particularly to a new grab rail structure.

Grab rails having no portions projecting beneath the water have become increasingly popular as compared to ladders that project into the water. Generally, insertion of the tubular ends of the grab rail into unset concrete produces an inadequate anchor. Thus, the substantial torques imposed on the grab rails tend to loosen them.

An object of this invention is to provide a new grab rail structure incorporating novel anchor means.

Another object of this invention is to provide effective anchor means in a grab rail organization characterized by the fact that the two ends of a unitary rail extend transversely and downwardly of the decking surface.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple anchor structure for a grab rail in which a wedge firmly secures the ends of the grab rail to an embedded housing.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a grab rail structure in which the anchor means are concealed.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of the invention. For this purpose, there is shown a form in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the present specification. This form will not be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of this invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the true scale drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a grab rail incorporating the present invention and shown installed at the decking of a swimming pool, the decking, coping and swimming pool wall being shown in section;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a pair of installed grab rails, the decking being shown in section;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the anchor structure, the ends of the grab rail being broken away and shown in section;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along a plane corresponding to line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views taken along planes corresponding to lines 5-5 and 66 of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 1 and 2 there is illustrated a portion of a swimming pool formed by a wall 10. Conventional coping material 11 is placed upon the top of the wall adjacent the pool proper, and decking 12 adjoins the coping 11. The decking 12 is indicated as integrally formed with the swimming pool Wall 10.

In order to assist the exit of a swimmer from the pool, a pair of grab rail structures 13 and 14 are provided. The grab rails 13 and 14 are identical and a description of one suffices as a description of the other.

The grab rail 13 is made of chrome plated tubular brass stock or the like, suitably bent to form a loopwith ends 15 and 16 extending in side by side relationship. The center line of the grab rail 13 extends in a single plane. In a manner to be hereinafter described, the grab rail 13 is secured at the decking 12 adjacent the coping, so that the plane of the grab rail 13 is vertical. The rear portion 17 of the grab rail 13 extends upwardly and 3,065,829 Patented Nov. 27, 1962 forwardly toward the swimming pool at an angle of about 30 to the vertical. The top horizontal portion 18 of the grab rail is defined by an inside 60 bend 19. A front half loop 20 arches from the top portion 18 and actually projects over the edge of the swimming pool. The half loop 20 is defined by an inside bend 21 that extends just short of From the lower end of the front loop 20 extends a bottom rail portion 22. An outside bend 23 at the end of the bottom rail portion 22 defines the end 16, and locates it alongside the end 15.

The bend 2.3 is of such extent that the grab rail ends 15 and 16 diverge downwardly. Thus, the angular orientation of the end 16 may be 15 forward whereas the end 15 is oriented 30 forward.

The 15 divergence angle a between the grab rail ends 15 and 16 is utilized in a manner presently to be described for securing the grab rail ends 15 and 16 to the decking 12.

A hollow anchor body 24 of cast brass or the like, and embedded in the decking, provides a cavity or space for reception of the grab rail ends 15 and 16. The upper end of the body 24 has a flange 25 surrounding a generally rectangular access opening 26. The top surface of the flange 25 is set flush with the surface of the decking 12 when the decking is poured. The anchor body 24 is recessed beneath the decking surface.

The anchor body 24 has a slanting rear wall 27 and a slanting front wall 28 spaced appropriately to engage along the outer surfaces of the ends 15 and 16. The rear and front walls furthermore are semi-circular (FIG.

5) in transverse section in order to fit the ends and to form seats against which the ends 15 and 16 are clamped in a manner to be hereinafter described. The axes of the arcuate front and rear walls together define the vertical plane of the grab rail 13.

The side walls 29 and 29a of the anchor body bow slightly outward as they extend from the front and rear walls.

The anchor body 24 has a bottom wall 30 that extends generally horizontally, except at its rear end 31, which slopes upwardly to meet the terminus of the grab rail end 15 at right angles.

In order to clamp the grab rail ends 15 and 16 to the anchor body 24, a wedge 32 is provided in the anchor body 24 between the grab rail ends 15 and 16. This wedge may be made of cast brass, has opposite ends semi-cylindrically recessed as at 33 and 34 to fit the inner surfaces of the rail ends 15 and 16. Furthermore, the axes of the seats 33 and 34 have a convergence corresponding to that of the rail ends 15, 16 and the anchor body walls 27 and-28. By moving the wedge 32 upwardly between the grab rail ends 15 and 16, the grab rail ends 15 and 16 are urged apart and into frictional engagement with the rear and front anchor body walls.27 and 28.

For this purpose, a draw screw 35 is provided. This screw engages a central threaded bore 36 located at the transverse symmetry plane b-b (FIGS. 3 and 6) of the wedge 32. The shank of the draw screw 35 extends upwardly between the ends 15 and 16 and is so supported that the symmetry plane bb of the wedge bisects the angle a between the diverging grab rail ends 15, 16. Furthermore, head 37 of the draw screw 35 must react against a suitable bearing in order to actuate the wedge 32.. A plate 38, overlying the anchor body opening 26, performs these functions and also forms an escutcheon, concealing the anchor body 24. Thus, the escutcheon plate 38 fits upon the flange 25 of the anchor body 24. At the center of the plate 38 is a boss 3? having an inclined surface 40 extending at right angles to the bisector c of the angle a. The boss has a through aperture 41 falling along the bisector c correspondingly locating the symmetry plane b-b. The head 37 of the draw screw bears against the surface 40 as the draw screw 35 is rotated, and the wedge 32 imposes equal reactions upon the grab rail ends 15 and 16. The head 37 is adequately accessible for cooperation with a suitable tool.

Reinforcing ribs 42 and 43 beneath the plate and on opposite sides of the boss 39 effectively transfer the thrust of the draw screw to the periphery of the escutcheon plate 38 and thence to the flange of the anchor body 24.

The escutcheon plate 38 which may, for example, be made of chrome plated brass to match the grab rail 13, has two apertures 44 and 45 through which the grab rail ends 15 and 16 pass. The apertures 44 and 45 have chamfers 46 and 47 on the under surface of the escutcheon plate 38 to allow clear inclined passage of the grab rail ends relative to the plane of the escutcheon plate 38. The escutcheon plate 33 is, of course, secured by the draw screw 35.

In order to reinforce the grab rail ends at the place that the wedge 32 engages and thereby prevent deformation, wooden plugs 48 and 49 are provided that are driven into the ends of the grab rail ends 15 and 16.

In order to prevent the grab rail ends 15 and 16 from twisting about their separate axes, projections 50 and 51 are provided that extend inwardly along the center of the walls 27 and 28. These projections embed themselves in the grab rail ends and lock the ends in place and against rotation.

The anchor body 24 has suitable peripheral ribs 52 and 53 that are suitably surrounded by the concrete material forming the decking 12. Accordingly, the anchor body 24 is itself firmly secured. Furthermore, the downward divergence of the front andrear walls 28 and 27 provides an interlock with the decking.

For assembly, the wedge 32 is first inserted in the body 24. A guide holds the wedge in position to receive the draw screw 35. The guide is formed by two channels 54 and 55 respectively on the side walls 29 and 29a of the anchor body. These channels 54 receive lugs 56 and 57 that project laterally from the wedge 32. The guiding relationship thus established ensures alignment.

After the wedge 32 is positioned, the grab rail 13 is placed in the anchor body. The divergence of the walls 27 and 28 to which the grab rail ends are fitted requires that the ends 15 and 16 be flexed towards each other in order to pass the anchor body opening 26. The simplest method to allow for this is first to position the escutcheon plate 38 over the flange 25. The end 15, being the longer of the two, is first inserted into its opening 44. The end 16 is then flexed until it can be passed through the escutcheon opening 45. The grab rail 13 can then be pushed into the anchor body, and the flexure is correspondingly eliminated as the ends 15 and 16 move into position.

The guiding channels 54 and 55 holding the wedge 32 in position, the draw screw 35 can now be passed through the escutcheon and into the wedge bore. Disassembly is readily accomplished. When the draw screw is removed, the ends 15 and 16 exert forces on the wedge having a downward component, and the parts snap free.

The inventors claim:

1. A grab rail structure for a swimming pool or the like, comprising, in combination: a looped grab rail element having ends extending in downwardly diverging side by side relationship; an anchor body adapted to be at least partially embedded in decking surrounding a swimming pool, and having a cavity opening at its upper end for receiving said grab rail element ends; the body having inner seat-forming surfaces along which the grab rail element ends extend; a wedge between the grab rail element ends and located entirely within the cavity; and means reacting against the body for drawing the wedge int; clamping engagement with said grab rail element en s.

2. A grab rail structure for a swimming pool or the like: an anchor body having a cavity and an upper access opening to the cavity, a rear cavity wall and a front cavity wall diverging from each other in a direction inwardly of the access opening; a looped grab rail element having ends extending into said anchor body and seated along the front wall and the rear wall respectively; a wedge between grab rail ends and accommodated entirely within the cavity; a draw screw engaging the wedge and having a head accessible exteriorly of the anchor and between the rail ends; means providing a bearing on the anchor against which said draw screw reacts and an escutcheon plate overlying the access opening.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 in which said anchor body has guide means for confining the wedge for rectilinear movement in the body.

4. A grab rail structure for a swimming pool or the like: an anchor body having a cavity and an upper access opening to the cavity, a rear cavity wall and a front cavvity wall diverging from each other in a direction inwardly of the access opening; a looped grab rail element having ends extending into said anchor body and seated along the front wall and the rear wall respectively; a

wedge between grab rail ends and accommodated entirely within the cavity; a draw screw engaging the wedge and having a head accessible exteriorly of the anchor and being an angle of downward divergence between the grab rail element ends; a body adapted to be embedded in the decking surrounding a swimming pool, and having a cavity provided with an upper opening end for receiving said grab rail element ends; said body cavity having front and rear walls providing substantially semi-cylindrical surfaces for fitting said grab rail element ends, said semicylindrical surfaces having axes diverging from each other at said'angle; a wedge between the grab rail element ends and having substantially semi-cylindrical surfaces on opposite sides thereof for engaging the grab rail element ends on their inner surfaces, said wedge being located entirely within said cavity the said semi-cylindrical surfaces of said wedge having axes also diverging from each other at said angle; and wedge-actuating means reacting against the body for drawing said wedge toward the said cavity opening and into clamping engagement with said grab rail element ends.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 together with an escutcheon plate overlying said anchor body opening, and in which said wedge actuating means reacts against said escutcheon plate.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 5 together with an escutcheon plate overlying said anchor body opening, and in which said wedge actuating means comprises a draw screw having a head reacting against said escutcheon plate and a threaded end engaging said wedge.

SfThe combination as set forth in claim 7 together with guide means for locating the wedge for cooperation with said draw screw.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,801,277 Kelley Apr. 21, 1931 1,986,735 Mack Jan. 1, 1935 2,886,359 Herrschaft May 12, 1959 2,904,361 Deenik et al Sept. 15, 1959 2,974,746 Baker Mar. 14, 1961 

